Bow of Alatar:
in contrast to FW Alatar's Teleport Ability:BOW OF ALATAR ‐ Permanent‐event (R)
[SP: 2; CP: 1]
Unique. Alatar specific. Place this card on Alatar if he is in play. If on Alatar, you may tap Bow of Alatar to allow him to face a strike from an attack against his company regardless of the attackʹs normal capabilities and his status. If such a strike fails, the attackʹs body is reduced by 1.
So the discussion was in regards to when the Bow may be tapped and when Alatar may choose to jump in to face a strike in the attack sequence.ALATAR ‐ Warrior/Scout/Ranger/Sage Fallen‐wizard (C)
[GI: 17; DI: 10; P/B: 7/9; Home Site: Any non‐ʺDragonʹs lairʺ Ruins & Lairs in a Wilderness] Unique. Hazards your companies defeat (even with *) are worth full kill marshalling points. If you have more than 7 stage points, all detainment attacks against your companies attack normally instead. If at one of his Wizardhavens when a hazard creature attacks one of your companies, he may immediately join that company. Alatar must face a strike from the creature (in all cases). Following all of the creatureʹs attacks, Alatar must tap (if untapped) and make a corruption check.
In the case of Alatar's teleport, the text is very specific in stating when the ability must be used. The bow, however, does not contain this same language.
Example 1 (Bow may be tapped any time):
Opponent plays Ambusher and selects Alatar and Ioreth as targets. Alatar faces his strike, taps, defeats it, then taps the bow to allow him to face a strike regardless of the attackʹs normal capabilities and his status. Alatar faces a second strike, tapped.
Example 2 (Bow must be tapped when attack is announced):
Opponent plays Ambusher. Alatar taps bow. Opponent chooses Gimli and Ioreth as targets.
* Lets pause here for a second *
Who faces the first strike? Does the Opponent choose or does the Defender choose? Keep in mind the text on the Bow does not require Alatar to face a strike, it allows him to face a strike. Again, timing of this ability is not specified.
*continue...*
Scenario A - Alatar faces the first strike, then the opponent chooses either Gimli or Ioreth to face the 2nd strike.
Scenario B - Gimli faces the first strike, then Alatar uses the Bow's ability to face the 2nd strike.